The defending Class 5A state wrestling champions were edged out in the late going of Saturday’s Mortimer Jordan Wrestling Invitational.

Arab was caught from behind by Southside of Gadsden, which had three wrestlers win their weight classes to grab the team championship Saturday.

The Panthers scored 188 points, with the Knights close behind with 183.5. Pinson was well back in third place with 144.

The host team finished fifth, behind Opelika. Oak Grove edged Hayden out for sixth by a point and a half. Gardendale placed eighth, and a shorthanded Corner squad was 10th, its best tournament finish so far in the revived program’s young history.

Jordan’s Brandon Brindley continued his unbeaten march to the state finals, winning his 46th match of the season with a 17-4 major decision over Brian Youngblood of Oak Grove in the 140-lb. finals.

Tim Barnett also won at 122 pounds class with a 10-3 decision over Hank Turner of Pinson Valley.

Hayden’s Trey Howse took gold at 147 pounds with a 15-6 major decision over Jacob Crocker of Pinson. Gardendale’s Drew Smith won the 172-lb. class by beating Josh Wood of Oak Grove 5-2 in the finals.

The Jordan Invitational was the fifth year that the school has run a major wrestling tournament, but the first year under a traditional bracket format, made possible by the new school facilities. The first four years were under a duals format.

Team results: 1. Southside-Gadsden, 188.0; 2. Arab, 183.5; 3. Pinson Valley, 144.0; 4. Opelika, 130.5; 5. Mortimer Jordan, 127.5; 6. Oak Grove, 113.5; 7. Hayden, 112.0; 8. Gardendale, 85.0; 9. Hueytown, 42.0; 10. Corner, 34.0; 11. Springville, 33.0; 12. J.B. Pennington, 28.0; 13. Shades Valley, 3.0.

Individual results:

108 lbs—Finals: Nick Cater (Arab) tech fall Zach Christopher (Southside-Gadsden) 17-2. Third place: Colt Alvis (Mortimer Jordan) pinned Zeke Lee (Oak Grove)

115—Finals: Brian White (Opelika) maj. dec. Morgan Franks (Pinson Valley) Third place: Travis Maddox (Hayden) dec. Lane Morrow (Arab) 1-0.

122—Finals: Timothy Barnett (Mortimer Jordan) dec. Hank Turner (Pinson Valley) 10-3. Third place: Trae Blankenship (Hueytown) won by five-match-rule forfeit over Noah Cater (Arab).

128—Finals: Devin Hester (Southside-Gadsden) pinned B.J. Hayes (Arab). Third place: Lacarris Patrick (Opelika) 30-11 pinned Tony Bearden (Pinson Valley).

134—Finals: Haden Ryals (Southside-Gadsden)pinned Elliott Conn (Mortimer Jordan). Third place: Charlie Carlisle (Hayden) pinned Javon Cortez (Arab).

140—Finals: Brandon Brindley (Mortimer Jordan) 46-0 major dec. Brian Youngblood (Oak Grove), 17-4. Third place: Brad Bowen (Gardendale) dec. Adam Pierce (Southside-Gadsden), 8-2.

147—Finals: Trey Howse (Hayden) major dec. Jacob Crocker (Pinson Valley), 15-6. Third place: Brannon Estes (Southside-Gadsden) won by five-match-rule forfeit over Brandon Roberts (Gardendale).

154—Finals: Kade Kitchens (Southside-Gadsden) pinned Tray More (Hayden). Third place: Cody Fortner (Pinson Valley) won by five-match-rule forfeit over Earl Scoggins (Opelika).

162—Finals: Cass Pierce (Arab) dec. William Skinner (Mortimer Jordan), 10-4. Third place: Dylan Harmon (Oak Grove) won by five-match-rule forfeit over Dalton Vaughn (Southside-Gadsden).

172—Finals: Drew Smith (Gardendale) dec. Josh Wood (Oak Grove), 5-2. Third place: Chase Matthews (Southside-Gadsden) dec. Chase Johnson (Hayden), 7-2.

184—Finals: Kai Rogers (Arab) dec. Robby Cannon (Oak Grove), 13-6. Third place: Anthony Scott (Hayden) dec. Wesley Butler (Southside-Gadsden), 5-4.

197—Finals: Rico Lewis (Opelika) pinned Skylar Stephens (Southside-Gadsden). Third place: Trey Fields (Arab) dec. Dustin Vining (Oak Grove), 9-6.

222—Finals: Dillan Campbell (Oak Grove), won by forfeit over Cary Pierce (Arab). Third place: Barrett Crossley (Pinson Valley) dec. Marcus Dawson (Hueytown), 7-6.

Hvy—Finals: Greg Johnson (Opelika) pinned Daniel Adkins (Gardendale). Third place: Cody Deason (Corner) major dec. Ryan Harris (Arab), 10-1.